International donors Friday announced US$ 528 million (som svarer til knap kr. 3,2 mia.) to support the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid to millions of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The announcements were made at a humanitarian conference in Geneva co-chaired by the United Nations, the European Union and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
“The generosity of donors will allow the United Nations and humanitarian agencies, working alongside the Government and Congolese institutions, to save more lives and protect more women, girls, boys and men,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock.
He emphasized that the Government of the DRC is providing leadership on the crisis response while the UN is supporting the Government in playing that key role for its people.
The humanitarian conference was attended by 54 countries in addition to numerous regional organizations, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations. Announcements were made by 22 UN Member States and organizations for humanitarian action in DRC in 2018.
“The humanitarian situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is and will remain urgent. We must not abandon the displaced persons and others affected by this forgotten crisis. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all parties that have committed themselves to helping the Congolese people, to providing humanitarian relief, and to exploring solutions to the challenges that the Democratic Republic of the Congo faces,” said Sigrid Kaag, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands.
”Today, we stand united with the people of the DRC,” said Christos Stylianides, European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management. ”For too long have humanitarian needs persisted in the country, and the situation keeps worsening. We are determined to assist the most vulnerable people of the DRC and give them hope. In order to fulfil our humanitarian mission and save lives on the ground, we need unhindered and continuous humanitarian access to all regions, as well as protection for humanitarian workers.”
